Title
Amending Chapter 107 of the Administrative Code pertaining to improvements to the Planning Commission process.
Body
WHEREAS, municipalities must structure their internal zoning application processes in such a manner that permits a decision by the municipality before the expiration of the deadlines in Minn. Stat. § 15.99, the purpose of which is to prevent government agencies from taking excessive amounts of time to make land use decisions;
WHEREAS, simple and predictable public processes for zoning applications can facilitate meaningful public input, ease the ability for the public to follow along, and reduce the required commitment from volunteer board and commission members; thereby allowing a greater portion of the Saint Paul population to consider serving on such boards and commissions and allowing them to function more effectively; and
WHEREAS, a smaller planning commission would allow for fewer committees, fewer meetings, and a more streamlined public process for zoning applications; and
WHEREAS, the ordinance will be implemented on the effective date, except that the number of planning commissioners will be phased in over time via the expiration of existing members’ terms, until the commission structure is fully implemented which is expected by 2027; now, therefore
RESOLVED, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES HEREBY ORDAIN:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 107 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Existing language to be deleted is shown by strikeout. New language to be added is shown by underlining.
Administrative Code
Sec. 107.01. Created.
There is hereby created an advisory planning commission. The commission shall consist of twenty-one (21) seven (7) voting regular members and two (2) alternate members, all of which shall be appointed by the mayor with consent of the council. Alternate members may vote on matters before the commission only in the absence of regular members. All members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years and until their successors are appointed. Initially, seven (7) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, seven (7) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years and seven (7) members shall be appointed for a term of one year. Thereafter, the terms of commission members shall be for three (3) years and until their successors are appointed.
Sec. 107.02. Powers and duties.
(g) The commission shall, upon proper notification, conduct public hearings on proposed amendments to the text of the code, proposed amendments to the zoning map, and other various types of zoning applications that are the duties of the planning commission.
Sec. 107.03. Zoning committee.
There is hereby created a zoning committee composed of eight (8) members of the planning commission appointed in accordance with the rules of procedure of the planning commission. The committee shall serve as an advisory body to the planning commission on matters relating to the Saint Paul Zoning Code. The committee shall, upon proper notification, conduct public hearings on district boundary amendments and the various types of zoning applications that are duties of the planning commission. The committee may also study and, upon proper notification, conduct public hearings on proposed amendments to the text of the code, unless a proposed amendment is assigned to another committee of the planning commission. The zoning committee shall not be required to conduct public hearings on the proposed text amendments or forty-acre studies if the planning commission holds hearings on such amendments. The committee shall carry out such other responsibilities of the planning commission under the zoning code as may be delegated to it by the planning commission.
Sec. 107.0403. Ad hoc advisory task forces.
The planning commission may from time to time create ad hoc advisory task forces composed of technical persons and/or planning commissioners appointed in accordance with the rules of procedure of the planning commission. Such task forces shall serve as advisory bodies to the planning commission and its committees. Such task forces shall study technical matters related to committee commission business, as identified by the committee commission, and shall report their findings to the committee commission for its consideration. All findings of the committee commission task forces shall be for informational purposes and in no event shall constitute findings or recommendations of the committee or of the planning commission as a whole. Such task forces shall be dissolved following the completion of their assigned subject of study in accordance with the rules of procedure of the planning commission.
SECTION 2.
This ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days following passage, approval and publication.